Before joining the ASUN in July 2021, EKU had spent the previous 73 years as a charter member[4] of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC).

[10] A member of the ASUN Conference since July 2021, Eastern Kentucky University sponsors teams in eight men's and nine women's NCAA sanctioned sports.

Eastern has traditionally been quite successful on the football field, having won 20 OVC titles and two Division I-AA National Championships in 1979 and 1982.

However, under NCAA rules, such a move would require that EKU first receive an all-sports invitation from an existing FBS conference.

[14] Historically, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers served as the primary rival to EKU, especially in football.

[15] With WKU's recent move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision, any future games between the two teams are uncertain.